Piper McCoy Harmon

What’s your favorite class? Why?

My favorite class is “Vocal Performance Workshop” with Susan McBerry. This class gave me the opportunity to explore my passion for music and performance in a creative, collaborative way. We performed a diverse set of songs inspired by Shakespeare, and I loved having a musical outlet in my STEM heavy day. I appreciate that the liberal arts focus at L&C allows students to explore these different facets of their interests.

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

As soon as I stepped foot on campus I fell in love with Lewis & Clark! The beautiful campus nestled in nature and the historic Manor House combined with small class sizes and its liberal arts curriculum checked all my boxes. It was an added bonus to get the opportunity to play volleyball and track at the collegiate level.

What do you like or find most interesting about your major?

I love learning about how interconnected the world of mathematics and computer science is. Each time I take a new class it builds on previous ones, and those “eureka moments” when I realize how to solve a complicated problem are incredibly motivating. The community fostered by Lewis & Clark’s mathematics faculty also makes the major an amazing, uplifting, and interesting experience.

What do you like or find most interesting about your minor?

I like how music combines mathematics with art and creativity. To me, that harmony is the perfect example of liberal arts curriculum. I have always loved music and involved it in every aspect of my life, supplement my minor with hands on education through singing in choir, managing the on campus radio station, and teaching music in the summers. The music department at Lewis & Clark is incredibly supportive and kind, and even someone like me without an extensive musical background was welcomed with open arms.

Tell us about your support systems and social outlets on campus: people, activities, clubs, res halls, etc.

At such a small school like Lewis & Clark, it is easy to find support wherever you look. The greatest supporters in my college journey so far have been people I have met through my extracurricular activities, notably on the varsity sports teams I am a part of. Both my coaches and teammates helped the transition to college feel easy and I always have someone to turn to and lean on when the going gets tough.

My favorite social outlets are the clubs that I have joined (KPH radio, String Club, The Co-op, Volleyball Club and more!) and hanging out with my friends in our residence halls. The small scale of campus makes the whole school feel like one neighborhood where you can find friends on every corner.

If you have studied or will study overseas while at Lewis & Clark, how did you choose your program? What did your overseas study add to your L&C experience?

I chose the London Humanities program because I wanted to embrace the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and explore a completely different side of my academic interests. Next fall, I will be exploring Scotland and England with a group of my peers while having the rigor (and scholarship price) of a Lewis & Clark education. There were many options to chose from to study overseas, and it really feels like there is an option for everyone who wants to go abroad to find something they will love.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Don’t pigeon-hole yourself into doing what you think others want you to do; these are the years to follow your passions and explore who you are and what you truly enjoy doing. Join a club (or three), ride into town on the Pio and explore this beautiful city, take a class just for the fun of it! Not everything will be perfect and failure isn’t the end of the world; every bump in the road is another opportunity to learn and grow.

Why do you love playing volleyball and track at L&C? How do you balance athletics and academics?

I love playing volleyball and track at L&C because of the supportive community it brings me and the opportunity I have to compete at a high level. I have met some of my closest friends and learned many valuable lessons on how to work with others and manage stress while involved with L&C sports teams. Truthfully, balancing athletics and academics isn’t easy, but there are so many supports to help with academics (professors, the SQRC, and the writing center) as well as support systems to overcome the the mental stress of college athletics (the Mental Health Validation Program). The D3 motto of being a student athlete (emphasis on the student part) is something that helps me balance my busy schedule, I am primarily at L&C to learn and grow academically, and sports are an awesome added bonus.

How did your financial aid package influence your decision to attend Lewis & Clark?

My financial aid package cemented my decision to study at Lewis & Clark; it allowed me to pursue a quality liberal arts education without worrying about affordability. Lewis & Clark rewarded me with great academic scholarships which made it feel like my hard work in high school finally paid off!

Who is your mentor on campus? Why?

My mentor on campus is my academic advisor Associate Professor Paul Allen. Paul has shown his unwavering support of all my lofty academic pursuits (even when they haven’t all been successful) and has inspired me to be a mathematics educator. He is incredibly passionate about his subject area, yet also values his students as people first and foremost. Paul never fails to brighten up any classroom which he inhabits, and has given me advice on what success really is: finding joy in your life and bringing it to others.

What’s one of the best spots on campus?

One of my favorite campus spots is the meditation room in the basement of the chapel. An multi-use space open to any and all students, the mediation room has offered me respite and quiet when I needed it most and is a space to reset, meditate, or even nap!

Have you been involved with one of our symposia, as an organizer or participant? What was the experience like? How did the event complement your academic experience?

I had the opportunity to be a speaker at the Festival of Scholars and Artists (FOSA) last year. I perform one of my original poems published in the student-run Literary Review along with other musicians, artists, and poets. The experience was gratifying, and inspired me to continue to share my art with the world. Even as a STEM major, I am grateful for the opportunities to participate in creative arts and access support and feedback from my peers and professors through events like FOSA.

Computer Science Music